Woman who died in Palm Beach jail identified, cause of death yet to be determined

Lourdes Caridad Dorta, 51, found unresponsive in jail Sunday night

Lourdes Caridad Dorta, 51, of West Palm Beach, died while in custody at the… (Palm Beach County Sheriff's…)

February 12, 2013|By Brett Clarkson, Sun Sentinel

A West Palm Beach woman who died in custody at the Palm Beach County Jail has been identified as Lourdes Caridad Dorta. Her cause of death has not yet been determined.

Dorta, 51, was found unresponsive at 8:30 p.m. Sunday in the jail's infirmary after her arrest early Saturday, said Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

Forensic pathologists are awaiting the completion of toxicology testing, which could take up to 12 weeks, said Harold Ruslander, chief investigator at the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner's Office.

"It's pending," Ruslander said.

Dorta, who would have turned 52 on Monday, was arrested on charges of DUI, resisting a law enforcement officer with violence and assaulting a law enforcement officer after deputies said she almost hit six cars while driving erratically on State Road 7 in the Lake Worth area at about 4:30 a.m. Saturday.

When Dorta stopped abruptly after almost hitting a car at Lantana Road, a deputy approached her and told her not to move, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Dorta pressed the gas pedal and the car pushed forward, according to the affidavit.

The deputy reached into the car to move the gear into park. Dorta tried to bite his arm and the deputy elbowed her in the face, the arrest report said.

Dorta's mug shot from her Saturday morning booking showed into the jail bruising around her left eye and what appeared to be dried blood under her nostril.

According to the affidavit, Dorta told a deputy she was taking "several different medications for being bipolar" and that she "does not drink or do drugs."

Barbera said Dorta's death is still under investigation by the violent crimes division of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.